WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Health Alert: Missing periods

Health Alert: Missing periods

NATIONAL - For many women, missing that monthly cycle is nothing to cheer about. A new study is looking at how to help women who want that monthly reassurance.

Lindsey Tice doesn't like the months that go by with no period, "You want to be regular; because you know, you bloat from not having a period. You just, mood swings, moodiness. I wasn't producing estrogen."

Lindsey suffers from polycystic ovarian disease, which causes her to miss menstrual cycles. Dr. David Archer says, "Some women do not like to have irregular cycles and often they're concerned in this lack of cycles that there may be something wrong with them or they may be pregnant."

Doctor Archer is heading a clinical trial that looks at which dose of a progesterone, called Prometrium, better regulates cycles. "If a woman has a delayed or long interval from one period to the next, the idea is to see what dose of progesterone will be effective in inducing bleeding in that woman."

Prometrium is for women who don't respond to current treatments. Tice says, "I'm on the second cycle of Prometrium right now and my first cycle, I didn't think it would work. Then all of a sudden it worked. I had a menstrual cycle."

Another plus, Lindsey has lost 17 pounds. Once the study wraps up, she hopes it won't be too long before Prometrium available for this type of treatment. "It's been great. I haven't had any side effects, not at all."

The 18-month-long trial just ended in May. The data is being analyzed and will then be submitted to the FDA for approval. If approved, Prometrium could available for treating this condition within two years.

Posted by Chantelle Janelle